Kids getting teeth pulled - help!

[Trish Bessette]

My DD14 has to have 2 teeth pulled next week. They are baby teeth that never let go

She is scared stiffShe can't stand the dentist to begin with.

The worst part is I'm pretty sure she may pass out. She has a tendency to do that and has come very close when getting her shots at the doctors.

Have you been through this with your kids? What is the process of getting teeth pulled? What do they do? Can you believe it, neither I or my DH have ever had to have teeth pulled and I can feel the tension building in myself getting worried for her appt.

To know her you would never know something like this will upset her. She is a animal when playing sports and has a very laid back demeanor.

Thanks for your help!

 

[scrapquitler]

Most likely they will simply give her a couple shots of novacaine and wait until it is numb, then pull them out. It's really not a big deal. I'd suggest giving her some tylenol before you go to alleviate any pain, though usually the worst pain will be getting the novacaine (at least for me).

 

[Trish Bessette]

Most likely they will simply give her a couple shots of novacaine and wait until it is numb, then pull them out. It's really not a big deal. I'd suggest giving her some tylenol before you go to alleviate any pain, though usually the worst pain will be getting the novacaine (at least for me).

Good idea about the Tylenol. I'm sure it isn't a big deal however one of the teeth kind of has skin around it (sorry to be gross) so I'm thinking that may need to be cut out???

 

[SpecialK]

My son had his last baby tooth pulled last spring. The dentist numbed his gum, shot him up with novocaine and pulled it. No big deal really. This summer he had to have oral surgery and also didn't feel a thing.

Why is your daughter so afraid of the dentist? Has she felt pain there before? I'm asking because my kids have no fear of the dentist - unlike their mother who had a masochist for a dentist growing up.

 

[robinb]

No one likes to have their teeth pulled. I had mine done with Novocaine but the procedure is not a comfortable one mentally since you are 100% aware of what is going on even though you really can't feel it. Can you call her dentist and tell them that her anxiety level is so high she is likely to pass out? Perhaps they can sedate her in a different way before pulling her teeth. If they won't work with you, you might want to find another dentist that works well with fearful patients.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I have a medical passer outer. I understand your anxiety, mine has to get braces next month. My fear is that she passes out when she gets the molds and chokes to death.

For starters she can have NO drugs to help her with her anxiety. Sucks to hear that doesn't it? Only the novocaine. She can have Motrin/Tylenol of course.

I would recommend you take her to an oral surgeon instead. They are used to passing out and know how to handle it better.

My dd is 13, almost 14 in a couple of weeks. We have a "system" to handle the condition. She has vasovagal syncope.

She has learned how to tell the doctors NO and to go slow until she regains herself. But this has been over a period of yrs that we have developed this.

You can see a counselor that does cognitive behavorial therapy. I HIGHLY recommend you get your dd into some therapy. Learning how to handle herself with medical stuff is something she will need for the rest of her life.

 

[Trish Bessette]

I have a medical passer outer. I understand your anxiety, mine has to get braces next month. My fear is that she passes out when she gets the molds and chokes to death.

For starters she can have NO drugs to help her with her anxiety. Sucks to hear that doesn't it? Only the novocaine.

I would recommend you take her to an oral surgeon instead. They are used to passing out and know how to handle it better.

My dd is 13, almost 14 in a couple of weeks. We have a "system" to handle the condition. She has vasovagal syncope.

She has learned how to tell the doctors NO and to go slow until she regains herself. But this has been over a period of yrs that we have developed this.

You can see a counselor that does cognitive behavorial therapy. I HIGHLY recommend you get your dd into some therapy. Learning how to handle herself with medical stuff is something she will need for the rest of her life.

My DD just turned 14 two days ago. thank you for all your advice. The last time she had to get shots at the doctor she was aware of what was going on and was able to say "I have to sit down I feel like I'm going to pass out". She never did but came close.

 

[Trish Bessette]

Why is your daughter so afraid of the dentist? Has she felt pain there before? I'm asking because my kids have no fear of the dentist - unlike their mother who had a masochist for a dentist growing up.

She has never had a bad experience getting her teeth cleaned her entire life. She had to have 3 shots at the doctors office a few years ago and she almost passed out. Since then, I see the anixiety in her for both dentist and doctors. NEVER expected this with her.

 

[Jennasis]

I would ask the dentist for a prescription for a low dose of valium or xanax to take prior to the appointment to help with the anxiety.

To be honest, I had two teeth pulled with just novacaine once and it was a traumatic experience. no pain at all, but the sound of things cracking/tearing and the pressure just about sent me over the age (at 16).

 

[The Mystery Machine]

No one likes to have their teeth pulled. I had mine done with Novocaine but the procedure is not a comfortable one mentally since you are 100% aware of what is going on even though you really can't feel it. Can you call her dentist and tell them that her anxiety level is so high she is likely to pass out? Perhaps they can sedate her in a different way before pulling her teeth. If they won't work with you, you might want to find another dentist that works well with fearful patients.

Nope, that is a no go. I am living it and it is dangerous to do that to patients that pass out because if they pass out, their blood pressure drops, just like a child who holds their breath.

They need to be fully unmedicated with anything that does not interfere with regaining consciousness.

Sedation drugs can interfere with blood pressure.

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

I have never had teeth pulled but when my brother had teeth pulled, I vividly remember his pillow the next morning being soaked in blood. So give her a crappy pillow with crappy bedding.

Also so she doesn't hear any of the noises, see if the dentist will let her listen to her ipod or something. We used to do this when we got cavities filled.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I would ask the dentist for a prescription for a low dose of valium or xanax to take prior to the appointment to help with the anxiety.

To be honest, I had two teeth pulled with just novacaine once and it was a traumatic experience. no pain at all, but the sound of things cracking/tearing and the pressure just about sent me over the age (at 16).

NO!!!! This is unsafe. See previous post.

 

[Trish Bessette]

Nope, that is a no go. I am living it and it is dangerous to do that to patients that pass out because if they pass out, their blood pressure drops, just like a child who holds their breath.

They need to be fully unmedicated with anything that does not interfere with regaining consciousness.

Sedation drugs can interfere with blood pressure.

I am so glad you posted this. I just got off the phone with the dentist office to let them know about how worried she is and they said they would call in a pill for her to take before. I told them I didn't think I would give it to her and I'm glad to read what you wrote. Now I know not to. Makes me mad they don't know that!

 

[Jennasis]

Nope, that is a no go. I am living it and it is dangerous to do that to patients that pass out because if they pass out, their blood pressure drops, just like a child who holds their breath.

They need to be fully unmedicated with anything that does not interfere with regaining consciousness.

Sedation drugs can interfere with blood pressure.

What if the passing out is not caused by a medical condition? If it's only anxiety (white-coat syndrome) then a dose of valium or xanax would prevent the anxiety in the first place, no?

 

[Trish Bessette]

I have never had teeth pulled but when my brother had teeth pulled, I vividly remember his pillow the next morning being soaked in blood. So give her a crappy pillow with crappy bedding.

Also so she doesn't hear any of the noises, see if the dentist will let her listen to her ipod or something. We used to do this when we got cavities filled.

I did tell her to bring her ipod to listen to. That will hopefully help!

 

[Trish Bessette]

What if the passing out is not caused by a medical condition? If it's only anxiety (white-coat syndrome) then a dose of valium or xanax would prevent the anxiety in the first place, no?

I know it isn't a medical condition - she just works herself up so!

 

[Jennasis]

I am so glad you posted this. I just got off the phone with the dentist office to let them know about how worried she is and they said they would call in a pill for her to take before. I told them I didn't think I would give it to her and I'm glad to read what you wrote. Now I know not to. Makes me mad they don't know that!

If Mystery Machine was correct in her thinking then NOBODY would EVER be prescribed a med for anxiety! If they passed out anyway due to anxiety (caused by whatever...my sister takes it for public speaking engagements after passing out several times), then what??? The med prevents the anxiety that causes the fainting. If she had a heart condition then I could see what she's saying.

There are a plethora of dentists that can, do and will successfully prescribe a mild sedative pill for their patients.

Call your dentist back and get the pill...for DD's sake.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

What if the passing out is not caused by a medical condition? If it's only anxiety (white-coat syndrome) then a dose of valium or xanax would prevent the anxiety in the first place, no?

It does not matter. The "passing out" is not gently falling to floor and then waking up.

It looks like a seizure. Jaws are cletched and they are not breathing and turning blue.

You DO NOT want to run the risk of her taking the meds and then she passes out and then cannot regain consciousness.

Heck my ortho and ped told me under no circumstances can she have anxiety meds. I asked both of them.

 

[Jennasis]

It does not matter. The "passing out" is not gently falling to floor and then waking up.

It looks like a seizure. Jaws are cletched and they are not breathing and turning blue.

You DO NOT want to run the risk of her taking the meds and then she passes out and then cannot regain consciousness.

Heck my ortho and ped told under no circumstances can she have anxiety meds. I asked both of them.

Yeah? And mine said TAKE THE PILL. We aren;'t talking about sedating the kid like Michael Jackson! .25 of Xanax is not going to cause a drop in blood pressure...she won't get herself worked up enough to do it.

You and I will have to agree to disagree. And it seems the OP's dentist has been down this road before and agrees with me.




PS, I've seen plenty of people pass out and have done so myself.

 

[NAB]

Our dentist uses gas to calm them. My dd has had this a few times. I believe my neice had this too when she had to stuborn baby teeth needed pulled due to braces.